Providers in New Jersey could spend millions of dollars in order to comply with a new state law that sets minimum direct care staff-to-resident ratios at long-term care facilities. 

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed the new legislation Friday as part of a set of reforms for the industry, which found itself amid an early COVID-19 hotspot, his office announced. The law would specifically require facilities to have one certified nursing assistant to every eight residents for the day shift.

Additionally, it would require one direct care staff member (registered nurse, licensed nurse practitioner or CNA) to every 10 residents for the evening shift and one direct care staff member (RN, LPN or CNA) to every 14 residents for the night shift. 

Providers will be required to meet these ratios by Feb. 1, when the legislation takes effect. The Health Care Association of New Jersey told local media that compliance will cost the industry $30 million, or $5 a day per resident.

The legislation also establishes the Special Task Force on Direct Care Workforce Retention and Recruitment to evaluate job supports and incentives, training opportunities, wages and benefits, educational initiatives and certification reciprocity rules. 

“Increasing the amount of staff in nursing homes will improve the quality of services provided to the elderly in the state,” State Sen. Patrick Diegnan (D), the legislation’s sponsor, said in a statement. 

Murphy also signed a separate piece of legislation on Friday that requires long-term care facilities to create policies to prevent social isolation of residents — a common concern among providers and residents during the coronavirus pandemic.

“This program will help to ensure our facilities are better equipped to prevent feelings of social isolation in the event of future public health emergencies that require them to go into lockdown to prevent the spread of illness,” legislation sponsor State Sen. Nellie Pou (D) said.